We just got back from a weekend preaching trip in Alabama around 5:15am. I was awake for most of the trip, and rode shotgun to keep Kenny awake as he drove the last leg of the trip. It was a good weekend. The Lord helped, and it was a lot of fun. Will post more when, 1) I get some sleep 2) I get caught up on homework 3) I have time 4) I get the pictures sorted 5) I get everything put away 6) They give us a free day off of school, just for fun...yea.

Ryan

Tags: Return, Preach

Over break my family had our family pictures taken for the first time in, well, I really don't remember the last time. I love spending time with my family, and this was a memorable occasion. So many little stories, like me beating my brother repeatedly with a Curious George book in order to get my niece to laugh for a photo. A quite profusely enjoyable experience, I assure you. I love family pictures. They serve as a link to the past. To the memories surrounding them, and the people you care most about. I am truly blessed.


Meet my family. My Grandma & Grandpa Watters, my Mom, and my two older brothers and their families.


They were struggling with where to place me, and just told me to do something, so...


I love being an uncle.


L-R My oldest brother, Jason, wife Kara, Mom, Jenn holding Jayla, my brother Andy, Katie, Me holding Jax, and JeNa.


My middle brother Andy and his family.


Andy & Jenn.


Mom and her grandkids.


Katie looking quite pleased with herself.


Us being stupid (Mom was reading a Curious George book to us). I was laughing riotously!


My Mom, brothers, and I.


My oldest brother Jason, and his wife Kara.


Jason & his family.


The weapon of choice previously mentioned (Curious George book)


Jax, just after running into a wall.


JeLayna sleeping through it all. She has to have major surgery quite soon


They're quite cute, eh?


My one of a kind Mom, and I


My brothers and I. There's four years between each of us.


Us again.


One of my favorite pictures form the entire day!


JeNa posing.


Again, I love being an uncle!

Tags: Family

I knew I couldn't take it on the lam any longer, and I decided to turn myself in. So, about 5:30 this afternoon I headed back to the 'Natti (no idea why I used that term as I sincerely dislike it). I am being punished for my weekend escape by having a reading report over 150+ pages of reading due Wednesday for Church History II. They're brutal on insurrection here. I must sign off for now, the guard's coming back...

Ryan

P.S. Did you know that meat explodes when you leave it in the microwave too long? Ask me how I know.

Tags: Back

I decided to make a quick trip home this weekend to visit my family and chill (no pun intended, although it was -10 degrees). It was a blast. I spent a good portion of time in my favorite coffee shop (Stompin Grounds) just relaxing and updating this website. They have the best hot chocolate on earth! Where would we be without down times?

Ryan

Tags: Home

Last week was midwinter revival at GBS with evangelist and pastor Rick Maloyed. I haven't laughed that hard during a revival in a long time! He has such a keen sense of humor. It's always refreshing, no matter how many times you see it, to see someone who loves life, loves Christ, and loves proclaiming Him. The chapel was continually saturated with the presence of God. Stakes were driven. Issues settled. Progress made. Thank God for His times of renewal.

Ryan

A few pictures from the revival.

Tags: Revival

Last Saturday I went out to Starbucks in the evening to work on some homework and drink a hot chocolate (my usual drink of choice). Things started off fairly normal. I ordered my drink, sat down, and began to drudge my way through some back collateral reading. I was sitting behind this older gentleman, probably mid to late 60s, and I was amused (so shoot me) as I watched him get more and more perturbed with a group of young people (probably 24-25 years old) who were sitting off in the corner just enjoying each others company and laughing. At one point he turned around and looked at me and muttered in a thick Russian accent, "They're a bunch of nuts over there!", along with a few other things I couldn't understand. I just smiled, and politely nodded, but was rolling with laughter inside. As the group was leaving, one of the girls stopped to talk to him. Let's just say, he was not quite polite I felt bad for her, and her group. They turned out to be Jehovah's Witnesses, and they gave him a Watchtower Magazine before they left, which he was not too thrilled with. He then turned around and struck up a conversation with me about the whole ordeal. I was very happy to inform him that God's Bible School & College was absolutely not a subsidiary of the Jehovah's Witness Organization . We then talked about the riots of '67 in Detroit, religion, his family, Starbucks, and the list goes on. I found out his name was Jim, and he was originally from Bulgaria. We were eventually joined by his friend, David, from Cincy. The topic again moved to religion, and I was able to live out for them and explain what I believe true Christianity is like. We talked for nearly 2 hours about a myriad of topics. All the while, I was sensing that this was where God wanted me that night.

So, there we were, an Eastern Orthodox, a Catholic, and a Wesleyan Arminian. We had some in common, and many differences, but I am grateful for the opportunity that God placed in my Saturday evening to represent Him in a way that that was glorifying, enjoyable, and left a good taste for Christ, and the holy life in their mouth. It is truly an honor to live the Christian life. To witness for Him. To tell others about Him. We have been given much, and much we should share.

Ryan

Tags: fun, Homework

Last Saturday was extremely foggy in Cincinnati, and not having gone on a shoot in a while, I was getting antsy. So, I bundled up, and headed out to Ault Park. It was beautiful! I met a guy who laughed and said, "There's probably not much to take pictures of is there?" I replied that this is one of my favorite conditions to shoot under. You can get some really surreal looking shots when it's this foggy. It was so bad I couldn't even see past 20' in some places. After a while the fog lifted, and things returned to normal, but, all in all, it was an afternoon well spent. I had fun, and got a few fun shots. Enjoy!

Tags: Photography, fun

Have you ever known something your entire life, and thought you understood and accepted it, until one day it just walks up and smacks you across the face with a 2x4? I had that experience a few weeks ago. It finally sunk in at a gut level that I am truly happiest when I'm serving God. I'm truly the most content when I'm obeying Him. You say, "Well, duh!" I say, it hasn't hit you yet. I am finally beginning to grasp what the ancients discovered long ago, this is what we're made for. Isn't that the way everything else works in life? Nothing ever lives up to it's full potential or usefulness, and is never truly content, until it is doing what it was designed to do. We will never be truly content or satisfied until we are living the way we were supposed to, next to Him. It's like John Piper said, "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him." I get so tired of hearing people say, "We don't serve God to be happy", or "Your happiness doesn't matter in the Christian life". I say, hogwash. We were made, designed, intended to have an amazingly fulfilling and satisfying relationship with our Creator. Just look at Adam and Eve in the garden. They enjoyed close personal fellowship with God, just like it was meant to be. No, this isn't some sugarcoated "Everything is always perfect" whitewash. Yeah, life is difficult sometimes. I don't need to be told that. But that doesn't change the fact that we are in an amazingly wonderful relationship with the living God of the universe! I know this, we will never reach our greatest degree of service and impact until we have learned the secret that God is the source of all pleasure and joy, and it is only in Him that true happiness if found.

Ryan

Tags: Bible

I couldn't handle the smell anymore, as it was vigorously wafting into my room. So, I went into the kitchen with a few other guys as backup, and we went on a seek and destroy mission. The enemy was soon located, and was, disturbing. Have you ever seen (or smelled) fish and vegetables that have been in a slow-cooker for two days with the heat on the whole time? We found a new home for it Today was the first day of classes...scary. Huhh, I'm glad I don't have to do it on my own!œ

Ryan

Tags: Back

I arrived back in Cincinnati around 10:30 tonight. I was greeted by a most rank smell coming from the refrigerator in the guys dorm! I didn't have the courage (or stomach) to investigate. I shall leave it to the cleaning crew Well, It's 1:30am, and I'm ready for bed. Adios!

Ryan

Tags: Back